The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-01-13
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Annual Message Of Governor For
aker to the Legislature.
state Affairs Exhaustively Discussed-Im-
portant Recommendation Regard.
Ing the Spring Election, Tax.
alton aad Finances.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
CONTINENTAL o. Ian 4 1897

80 tAAot ARo thibO tnIOu8AOub IN COuu
try during the last two years as 70 the policy to
be pursued by our National Government In 70
gard TO the protection of American labor and
industries. It can now be stated with great
confidence that no political party will be al
lowed, however much 1t may desire to do 30, Il
@ O1sss 1 %s ars sns st w mSab and 1aaa Isssi0 saS x, policy SSe e
.ampled prosperity we have enjoyed during the
last quarter Of a century. The assurance thus
itself throughout all our business interests.
With o complete restoration of confidence In
this regard, there win be 9 full return OF that
commercial and industrial activity which will
bring the rich blessings of just rewards and
happy contentment to all classes Of our people
But You are to be further congratuiated. Ell
perience has shown the wisdom and e~f1cienc,
Of your labors at the last session.
When you convened, the most difdcult and
the most important duty presented related to
the elective franchise.
The question Of "a FREQ ballot and 4 fai,
count" was before you in an Immediate and
Men had been returned, as elected, to both
claim to the seats they held, except ii by y1 Virtue d 9
open, notorious and conceded frauds ct the
polls and In the returns. And not only had the
been thus assailed, but What was far worse and
more alarming was the manifestation of o wide.
spread and wicked determination to defend
sake Of partisan advantage, appropriate their
fruits and benefits.
~, xou y, first .ss duty naSn was to give eject to the
RSOP " - OOOA ga
pressed at the ballot-box by .purging your
to enact such provisions as would guard In the
greatest degree poss BILE against q repetition OF
You discharged both duties well. The mem.
bers elected BY the people were duly seated,
and o repetition Of the humiliating experience
through which you were compelled to pass was
ton laws applicable to tho cities where those
troubles arose., and where similar ones were
likely to ocsur In the future. The Pugsley law,
the cities Of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus
and Toledo, gave great satisfaction, but it was
nSs d sufnclsnt sSd complete ON to fglly guard against
TO Cincinnati and Cleveland, followed. This
statute cannot be too highly commended. It
to al well-meaning citizens Of both political
parties. 1t has enabled the people of Cincinnati
to have . quiet, decent and honest election. II
= not known how to express for 1t a higher OF
more significant eulogy. With such results to
mn 1t, argument is unnecessary to show
that 1t should be at once extended to all the
larger cities OF the State, especially to Column
bus and Toledo.
The slightly increased expense, trouble and
inconvenience OF registration are amply, com.
p~ensnted In many ways. 1t is enough that 1t
secures orderly elections, with honest results
and without any Investigations or election con-
tests, with their attendant expenses and irri-
%tations, 10 follow and prolong the excitements
incident to o political canvass. While you are
considering the subject Of elections, there is
1A1S w Wn1CA yOu ouOulu w 0bbCu-
ton. There has recently been much discussion
In tie newspapers OF the State concerning the
ndvisabiity Of abolishing April or spring cleo
1t is dinacult, in view OF the experience we
have had, to assign any satisfactory reason for
pense, time, labor and excitement to have all
our elections for each year on the same day.
The Constitution has been SO amended as to
admit OF o provision to that effect, and 1t is nc.
1t IS fnrther eoommended that you give duo
made that Il we have ali our elections on tie
same day, that day should be made q legal holi-
day: We cannot attach too much Importance
to the elective franchise.
When all these safeguards have been adopted,
there Is one other matter Of great Importance
that should receive consideration. At your
afforded Of the fact that the State government
might be obstructeda and practically overthrown
by o sufficient number Of the members of either
duties and going and remaining beyond the ter
ritorial limits Of the State. It had never oe-
CURED to the legislative mind to anticipate any
Der of the Senators saw fit to take such q step
during the last session, 1t was discovered that
there were no legal means whereby they might
You should enact q law providing that any
State Official who abandons IFS post OF duty and
goes beyond the State to avoid being compelled
20 perform 1t, shall be deemed guilty of an Of
fence Of SUFFICIENT gravity to make him subject
TO extradition upon the requisition Of the Gov
ernor.
The people Of Cincinnati are greatly indebted
TO you also for the law enacted OF your last ses-
sion. providing for the organization and govern
of Commissioner and the Mayor.
The board appointed under that law, have, In
connection with the Mayor OF that city, labored
with great earnestness, constancy and success
70 discharge their important duties. AS q result,
the police force OF that city is to-day equal in
any city In the country.
Both this police law and the election laws
that have been mentioned, are non-partisan in
character, there being on each board an equal
zeal parties. This is as 1t should be. Whatever
may be said OF non-partisan boards and legisla-
ton concerning other subjects, the elections and
constabulary should be always equally controlled
by both parties, no matter which may be in
power. It Is of the utmost importance that we
not oniy have honest elections, but that all par.
that there may be ready and cheerful acquies-
cence In the results. This can be best obtained
that pertains to the exercise Of the right Of suf-
rage. In every large city the police are an inn
portant feature Of al elections. They are q
great power for evil Ii SO disposed, and equally
9 great power for good If they desire to be.
They are most likely to do their duty faithfully
and impartially on such occasions whom or
basis, particularly when they act in
aid and as a part of q non-partisan election. In
proceeding the rights Of person ana pe prope a1y
makes it improper to involve them in politics,
not IN the same degree, but in the same sense.
that It would be to similarly involve the judic-
larry. 1t is hoped, therefore, that no changes
viii be made In any Of these statutes, except such
as experience may show are necessary to make
It has been currently reported in the news
papers and otherwise that an effort will be made
TO secure at your hands some important legisla-
ton touching municipal government generally
and affecting the city Of Cincinnati particularly.
This viii bring before you for consideration o
very important subject.
observed for the idea that, SO far as may be pos
stble, every city should govern itself. The mu-
nfcipal corporation Is the creature of the State,
and, so far rs. legal right is concerned, the State
may govern it In any way it may choose. But
local self-government is the very genius Of
American Institutions, and no community should
gencies, such as existed at Cincinnati, to de-
mand and justify the legislation with respect to
the boards of that city that was had at the last
session.
As soon, therefore, as it may be found safe to
do so, complete control of their government, in
be restored to the people Of that city. In this
way the responsibility for local government is
placed, not only where It properly belongs, but
tteficient. In determining the kind of municipal
government We are to have, 1t should be borne
In mind that experience has shown that we
should have as few elective officials Of O minor
character as possible, and likewise as few ex-
ecutive or departmental boards as possible, and
that all we do have, instead of being indepen-
should be subordinate heads, responsible and
accountable as such to one commonf final author
tty, which should appoint all the boards and
other ~onhctals it is thought best to select in that
way, and have the power of approval as to all
appointments made by its appointees, and also
have In all cases the right OF removal. This
concentrates q great deal of power, but it is
necessary to fix responsibility, and is not only
well calculated to make the people careful in
their selection, but also gives to them the ability
to call the right men to account, and thus more
certainly and directly control and determine
their affairs.
In this connection your attention is called
to the fact that the provisions of Sec
ton 1916 of the Revised Statutes pro-
vtdes that cities Of the second class,
when advanced to cities Of the first class,
shalIconstitute the fourth grade Of that class, and
that the provisions of section 17OS of the Re-
vised Statutes. which provide what officials cities
Of the first class shall have, do not apply to
cities of the fourth grade of that class. The
consequence is that q city of the second-class,
rdvanced to the fourth grade of the first class,
could not have any of the benefits provided in
that respect for the cities Of that class. 1t has
been said that this is one reason why no city of
the second class has been advanced to the first
class.
1t is recommended that you amend said sec